Starting mechanism for automobiles



Patented Oct. 16,V 1923.

UNITED STATES y 1,470,131 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HODGKINS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TG WISTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application led June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,632.

T o all whom z't may cofwem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Hone- KINS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Pittsburgh inthe county of Allegheny `and State of ennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful. Improvement in Starting Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specication. l l

My invention relates t0 starting mechanisms for automobiles and, particularly, to starting mechanisms for connecting electric motors to internal-combustion engines.

' One object of my invention is to provide a starting mechanism of the above indicated character that shall be provided with means for locking an auxiliary pinion, which meshes with the motor pinion, against rotation in order to swing it radially into mesh with the engine gear wheel upon starting of the motor and thatfshall render such locking means inoperative upon meshing of the auxiliary pinion with the engine gear wheel.

It is customary, according to modern prabtice, to start the internal-combustion engine of an automobile by means of an electric motor and to rovide means for connecting the motor to t e engine before starting it and forautomatically disconnecting the motor from the engine after it is in operation. In many types of such starting mechanisms, the motor pinion is moved longitudinally along the armature shaft into mesh with the engine gear wheel. However, Such method of connecting the starting motor to the internal-combustion engine necessitates the rotating of the motor pinion within certain speed limits to effect meshing of the pinion teeth with the teeth of the engine gear wheel. Moreover, the motor, which is operating at a considerable speed vbefore meshing of the pinion with the gear wheel, is subjected to considerable shock by being suddenly stopped upon meshing of the pinion with the gear wheel."

In a starting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, an auxiliary pinion, which meshes with the pinion on the motor shaft, is so swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel as not to necessitate operating the motor at any predetermined speed to prevent so-called clashing of .the gear teeth.

In the preferred form of practising. my

invention, an auxiliary pinion, which meshes engine gear wheel and the motor is station y.

In' such structure, the bracket and the auxiliary pinion are rotated with the armature shaft, u on starting of the motor, to swing the auxiiiar pinion into mesh with the engine gear w eel. Just before meshing of the auxiliary pinion with the engine gear wheel, a pim which is mounted u on the motor frame, engages the latch memier to free it from the notch in the bracket. The rotation of the auxiliary pinion supplies suiiicient centrifugal force to maintain the latch member out of engagement with thenotch in the bracket. After the engine is started, the engine gear wheel exerts force tol swing the auxiliary pinion away from such gear wheel. A spring member is preferably vconnected between the motor frame and the lbracket for biasing the auxiliary pinion away from the engine gear wheel.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a startin mechanism constructed in accordance wit my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailview in ing the connection of the bracket, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the starting mechanism shown in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, an electric motor 1, comprising an armature 2 and a fieldmagnet Winding 3, is provided for starting, an internal-combustion engine (not shown) having a flywheel gear 4. The motor 1 is provided with a frame 5 and an end bracket 6 having a projecting arm 7 which serves as a bearing for the armature shaft 8. A motor pinion 9 is rigidly connected to the shaft 8 in any suitable manner and preferably by a key, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

A U-shaped bracket 10, having two arms 11 and 12, is provided for rotation concentric with the amature shaft 8. Thearm 12 has a bearing upon the shaft 8, and the arm 11 preferably has a bearing upon the pe ective showatc member to end bracket 8 of the motor. A short shaft 13, which carries an auxiliary pinion 14, is rotatably supported by the two arms 11 and 12 of the bracket 10. The auxiliary pinion 14: meshes with the motor pinion 9 and is adapted to be swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel e.

A latch member 15 is mounted upon the auxiliary pinion 14 and is provided with a nose portion 16 which engages a notch 17 in the end of the arm 11, when the motor is stationary and the auxiliary pinion is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel. The latch member 15 is provided with a projecting portion 18, haring a cam surface which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 19 when the auxiliary pinion meshes with the en ine gear wheel. The pin 19 is preterab y mounted upon the end bracket 6 of the motor 1. The latchA member is preferably constructed with the center of gravity near the end of it in order that the latch member may be held away from the arm 11, by centrifugal force, when the auxiliary pinion is rotating.

A spring member 20 is connected between a pin 21, which is mounted upon the arm 7 of the end bracket 6, and a pin 22, which is mounted on the arm 12 near the end thereof. Preferably, the pin 21 is so disposed relative to the pin 22 as to always permit. the spring 20 to exert a 'force biasing the auxiliary pinion`14 away from the engine gear wheel 4. It is to be understood, however, that the pin 21 may be so disposed relative to the pin 22 as to permit the spring member 20 to bias the auxiliary pinion 14, either into or out of engagement with the engine gear wheel 4:. .di washer 23 is provided on the armature shaft between the arm 7 ot the end bracket and the arm 12 of the U-shaped bracket 10 in order to permit the ready mounting of the arm 11 upon the end bracket 6.

When the starting mechanism is in the position shown in the drawing, the auxiliary pinion 14 is locked to the arm 11 and, accordingly, it is caused to revolve with the armature shaft 8 when the motor is started. If the motor is started, it is clear the pinion 14 is swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel et and the pin 9 raises the latch member 15 'to permit the rotation of the pinion when it meshes with the engine gear wheel. Furthermore, during the rotation of the pinion 14C, the centrifugal force, acting upon the latch member 15, prevents such latch member from again engaging the notch in the arm 11. When the internal-combustion engine is started, the engine ear wheel 4 exerts a force to swing the pinion 1a and the bracket lOaway from such `gear wheel., and the pinion 14 cannot again be swung into engagement with the engine gear wheel until the rotation of such pinion is stopped to permit the latch 15 to engage the notch in the end of the arm 11.

`lVIodiiicat-ions in the mechanism and in the arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention Y 1. In a starting mechanism for an automobile, the combination with a motor, an engine gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means carried by said pinion for rigidly locking said pinion to the motor shaft to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, and means for rendering said locking means inoperative upon meshing of the pinion with the engine gear wheel, said locking means being responsive to centrifugal force whereby it remains inoperative during the rotation of said pinion.

2. In a starting mechanism Afor an auto mobile, the combination with a motor, au engine gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means comprising a latch member mounted on said pinion for preventing rotation of the pinion to swing it into mesh with the engine gear wheel, and means for rendering said means inoperative upon meshing of the pinion with the engine gear wheel.

3. In a starting mechanism for an automobile, the combination with a motor, an engine gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means mounted 4on said pinion for locking it against rotation `to swing the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, and means for rendering said locking means inoperative upon meshing oit the pinion with the engine gear wheel.

et. In a starting mechanism for an automobile, the combinationwith a motor, an engine gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means comprising a latch member on said pinion responsive to centrifugal force to be rendered inoperative upon the rotation of the pinion for rigidly locking said pinion against rotation to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, and means mounted on said motor for rendering said locking means inoperative upon meshing of the pinion with the engine gear wheel.

5. In a. startin mechanism for an automobile, the combination with a motor, an engine, gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means comprising a latch member mounted on said pinion for locking said pinion to the motor shaft to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, means for rendering said locking means inoperative upon meshing of the pinion with the engine gear wheel, and

means for biasing said'pinion away from the engine gear wheel.l y

6. In a starting mechanism for an internal-combustion engine, the combination with a motor, an engine gear wheel, and a pinion connected to, and operated by, said motor, of means comprising a latch member mounted on said pinion for locking it against rotation to swing the pinion into mesh with the engine ar wheel when the motor is started, saitIe engine gear wheel, when in rotation, serving to throw the pinion out of mesh, and a spring member for biasing the position of the pinion. i

7. In a starting mechanism for an internal-combustion engine, the combination comprising a motor, a bracket rotatably mounted concentric with the shaft of said motor, a. pinion rotatably mounted on said bracket and geared to said motor, an engine gear wheel, a latch member mounted on said pinion and registering with a notch in said bracket to prevent rotation of the pinion when it is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel, and means, upon operation` of the motor and swinging of the pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel, for automatically disconnecting said latch member from the bracket.

8. In a starting mechanism for an internal-combustion engine, the combination with a motor, an engine gear wheel, a bracket rotatably mounted concentric with the shaft of said motor, and a pinion rotatably mounted on said bracket and geared to said motor, said pinion being adapted to mesh with the engine gear wheel, of a latch member mounted on said pinion and engaging a notch in the bracket to prevent rotation of the .pinion when it is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel, and a pin mounted on the motor for lifting the latch out of said notch when the motor is started and the pinion is swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel, sald latch being held away from the bracket by centrifugal force when the pinion is rotating.

9. In a start-ing mechanism for an internal-combusion engine, the combination with a motor, an engine ar wheel, a pinion fixedly mounted on the s aft of said motor, and a bracket rotatably mounted concentric with the shaft of said motor, of an auxiliary pinion rotatably mounted on said bracket and meshing with said motor pinion, of a latch member mounted on said auxiliary pinion and engaging a notch in said bracket to prevent rotation of the auxiliary pinion when it is out of mesh with the engine gear wheel, and a pin mounted on. said motor for lifting the latch member out of said notch when the auxiliary is swung into mesh with the engine gear wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of June CHARLES H. HODGKINS. 

